Panoramic imaging system
USRE43842E1 · kind E1 · reissue
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 2008 |
| Grant date | Dec 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
A panoramic lens includes an aspherical convex surface and an aspherical concave surface. The convex surface includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion, and the concave surface also includes a transparent portion and an internally reflective portion. Light from a 360-degree surrounding scene enters the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the convex surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the concave surface, is reflected by the internally reflective portion of the convex surface, and exits the panoramic lens through the transparent portion of the concave surface as a narrow column of light beams. Light beams containing image data can be provided to the transparent portion of the concave surface, and those beams will follow this same optical path through the panoramic lens in reverse to project a panoramic image out from the transparent region of the convex surface.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.